By Kemi Yesufu
The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to investigate the many cases of flagrant disregard of right of way power lines, communication lines as well as the cutting of oil and gas stations within residential areas.
The decision of the House followed the adaption of a motion on the “Need to Investigate Compliance with All Rights of Way in Nigeria, Citing of Oil and Gas Stations as well as Tank Farms within Residential Areas, sponsored by Rep. Chike Okafor.
Leading the debate on the motion, Okafor noted that reoccurring pipeline fire disasters in almost all the states in Nigeria with devastating effects, high casualty rates has caused untold hardships to many.
He blamed the situation on the abuse of pipeline right of way by individuals, organizations and corporate bodies as the safety distance zone (Right of way) remains between 600 and 700 feet, which is being ignored.
Right of Way is a type of easement or access granted or reserved over land for usage purposes such as highways, railways transportation, electricity transmission lines, oil and gas Pipelines. This as distance for citing of Oil and Gas Stations, Canals and Flood Plains and any encroachment or abuse constitutes a great danger and puts the lives of many innocent people at risk.
“The indiscriminate and hazardous citing of Oil and Gas Stations as well as Tank Farms within and around residential areas against the approved distance of safety and prevention of health hazards, with the recent Ijegun Tank Farm and Magodo Gas Plant explosions which recorded loss of lives and destruction of properties due to their locations within residential areas
“There are over 400 (Four Hundred) Filling Stations located within and around residential buildings in Nigeria and pollution from Petrol stations could contaminate buildings as far as 100 meters and a minimum safety distance of 50 meters is required but regrettably, this has constantly been abused and the situation calls for urgent attention”, Okafor said.
“The indiscriminate violation of Power Lines Right of Way portends great danger as the mandatory safety distance of 11 meters for 12-33KVA lines (5.5 Meters on both sides) while 30 meters should be observed on 132KVA line (i.e.15 meters on both sides) is not being observed for 330KVA line (i.e. 25 meters on both sides) has not been obeyed and the situation remains hazardous.
“ Communications cable lines and accessories have an approved safety area of 5 meters from structures, trading, hawking and other human activities but it is unfortunate that such space has been under great abuse and there is an urgent need to look at the environmental impact assessments carried out while the cables were being laid, in line with the approved international safety standards”, he further said.
Following the adoption of the motion via a voice vote, the House resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate Compliance with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Pipelines Right of Way, citing of Tanks Farms, Oil and Gas Stations within and around Residential buildings in the country, Electricity Power Lines, Communication Cable Lines, Railway Lines, Highways and the role of all relevant approving and enforcement Government Agencies to prevent future disaster.
The committee is to report back to the House within six weeks for further legislative action
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